How Did Humans Domesticate Avocados?

How did humans domesticate the avocado? Long before toast and guacamole, wild avocado trees grew in the forests of Mexico and Central America, with hard fruit that was almost all seed. In this video, we travel back to the Ice Age to ask why the avocado has such an enormous seed. We look at the idea that giant animals like ground sloths and gomphotheres may have helped spread large-seeded fruits, and at what scientists still debate about that story. Then we follow the people who gathered wild avocados, protected useful trees, planted seeds and shaped the fruit over thousands of years. You’ll learn how the Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian types differ, why grafting matters today, how the Hass avocado began in California, and why protecting avocado diversity is important for the future. If you enjoy simple, curious explanations of how everyday foods got their history, subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. Tell us in the comments which fruit we should explore next.